The Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund (DWCF) announced the recipients of the “Disney Conservation Heroes” award for 2010 today during the annual meeting of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). The award recognizes citizens around the world for their tireless efforts at the local level to save wildlife, protect habitats and educate the communities around them.

“Conservation efforts around the globe and in our own backyard rely on the local community and direct involvement of dedicated people like our Disney Conservation Heroes,” said Dr. Jackie Ogden, Vice President, Animal Programs and Environmental Initiatives, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. “These are extraordinary individuals who are passionate about protecting animals and habitats in areas of critical concern.”

This year’s honorees represent conservation programs in six countries and three continents that concentrate on a wide array of animal species from sea turtles to chimpanzees. They were nominated by nonprofit environmental organizations and AZA zoos and aquariums committed to field conservation programs.

Each award recipient and their nominating organization will share a $1,000 award from the DWCF. This year’s recipients include:

In addition to the release of two different versions of the trailer for Disney’s Tangled, Walt Disney Studios has provided us with five new stills that we have added to the beginning of our stills gallery below.

As always, click on the thumbnail to see a larger version of the still. You can then click the resize arrow if it appears to view the still at its original size.

The pool and kid slide at Stormalong Bay at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club will be closed for refurbishment from January 3, 2011 through February 2, 2011 while the pool side at the Boardwalk Inn and Villas will be closed for refurbishment from February 7, 2011 through March 16, 2011.

During this time, guests may continue to make full use of the remainder of the pool and quiet pools and may opt to use the pool at the alternating resort if the use of a slide is desired. Traditionally speaking, a shuttle is offered between the resorts when the pools undergo refurbishments.

Walt Disney Studios UK has released the first official full-length trailer for Disney’s Tangled, the upcoming release from Walt Disney Animation Studios. Consisting of virtually all new footage, the far-more-serious trailer is narrated by Flynn Rider (Zachary Levi) who offers his point on the time he spends with Rapunzel (Mandy Moore) and introduces much of the storyline of the film, focusing on dreams (there are, of course, sub-points/plots to the film as well). The trailer also offers a brief appearance of Hookhand who is voiced by Brad Garrett.

Courtesy of Walt Disney World cast member @PaulChadkin, here is a first look at the 2010 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween (MNSSH) map and schedule for the seasonal parties that begin tonight at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom.

Below you’ll find both the front and back of the maps. Click on each image to expand to its larger version. If the re-size arrow appears, you may click it to view the map in its original size as provided by Paul.

In celebration of the new Disney Store Imagination Park grand opening in San Diego, Disney D23 members were invited to a private tea party event in which Paige O’Hara, the voice of Belle in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast appeared to meet and greet with fans. O’Hara was also presented with her very own Mrs. Potts limited edition tea set, part of the Disney Store limited edition Beauty and the Beast collectible line that was launched at the event.

Below is our gallery of photos from the event which features Paige O’Hara and the new limited edition collection.

Back in June, we first revealed that as part of the celebration for the Beauty and the Beast Diamond Edition on Blu-ray/DVD in October, Disney Store would introduce a line of limited edition ‘life-size,’ fully functional collection of the characters from the film in their enchanted forms. Today we are pleased to get a first look following the debut of the Mrs. Potts tea set at the Grand Opening of the new Disney Store Imagination Park in San Diego.

Mrs. Potts Tea Set

Limited to an Edition of 1,600 pieces

Tea Set includes: Mrs. Potts, Chip and three cups

Clay fine china

Mrs. Potts 8” H. Cups 4” H

Arrives in satin lined presentation box

Each cup features distinctive off kilter design

Mrs. Potts and Chip have features molded in bas relief

Imported

Trimmed with 24K gold, every detail of this limited edition tea set was meticulously designed by a Disney character artist.

Recognizing Disney’s leadership within the travel and tourism industry, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke appointed Al Weiss, president of Worldwide Operations for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, to serve on the Corporation for Travel Promotion (CTP) Board of Directors. Weiss, based in Orlando, Fla., joins 10 other travel and tourism industry leaders on the board of the CTP, a new non-profit corporation that will promote travel to the United States abroad and improve the entry process for international visitors to the U.S.